Chapter 2

"You dare slander Nicole, Susan?" Andrew Lucas's fingers dug into my chin. "If she hadn't sold her kidney to save me four years ago in that car accident, I'd be a cripple by now!"

Tears welled up in my eyes from the pain. "Andrew, I didn't—"

"Shut up!" He shoved me away violently. "While you were rolling in bed with Henry, she was raising money for me!"

I staggered back two steps, my spine hitting the cold wall.

A sharp pain suddenly shot through my abdomen. I pressed my hand against it desperately. Daniel was still waiting for me at the hospital. I had to hold on.

"Andrew, Daniel's condition is worsening..." My voice trembled as I reached out. "Could you lend me five hundred thousand?"

Andrew suddenly laughed. That smile was like a poisoned blade, slicing my heart to pieces.

He pulled out two bills and threw them in my face. "A hundred per round. Generous enough, don't you think?"

The sharp edges of the money cut my cheek. I bent down to pick up the two hundred dollars, my fingers shaking uncontrollably.

"It's not enough..." My voice came out hoarse. "The girls at 'A Variety of Beauties' charge a thousand per session. We did it twice..."

Andrew's eyes turned to ice.

He grabbed a stack of cash and hurled it at me. The bills fluttered down like snowflakes.

"Susan, you're rotten to the core!"

The door slammed shut with a deafening crash. On my knees, I gathered the scattered bills one by one.

Two thousand dollars. Enough for Daniel's blood transfusion.

A faint sound came from the hallway. I yanked the door open in panic—

Daniel's small figure stood at the stairwell, staring at the direction Andrew had left. A piece of paper was clutched tightly in his hand, his lips moving soundlessly.

He was calling for "Daddy."

When he saw me, he quickly hid the paper behind his back and forced a smile. "Mommy."

My heart split in two.

"Daniel, Mommy is so sorry..."

"I only need Mommy." He threw himself into my arms, pressing his face against my chest. "Mommy is the best in the world."

Before the words fully left his mouth, his body suddenly stiffened—then went limp as he collapsed.

"Daniel!"